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Tag: el-Rufai

  • El-Rufai to conduct Kogi APC primaries

    El-Rufai to conduct Kogi APC primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday constituted a seven-man committee, headed by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, to conduct Saturday’s  governorship primaries in Kogi State. The party has begun the sale of nomination forms for the Bayelsa State governorship primary election.

    Other members of the committee are Alhaji Ibrahim Sarki, Mrs. Omorge Osifor, Mr. Mohammad Wali, Mr. Lanre Asiwaju and Greg Egwu. Senator Magnus Abbe will serve as the secretary.

    APC National Organising Secretary Osita Izunaso urged members of the committee to take the assignment serious.

    He said if they needed to appoint anybody to assist them, “they are free to do so among members of the party, who are not from Kogi State.”

    Izunaso added: “You should hold a stakeholders’ meeting first and introduce yourselves. The party requests that you should reach out to the DSS, police and other security agencies upon arrival, so that they will be carried along.

    “Once you start the accreditation, you cannot postpone. Once you begin, you must complete and the winners will be announced on the spot. It is not something you will go and compile and come back. It is not allowed.

    “The aspirants with the highest number of votes will be declared the winner. I want you to bear in mind, there is nothing like endorsement, maybe somebody will say he has been endorsed, there is nothing like that. It is the people there who will choose.”

  • Don’t pay for application, El-Rufai tells Kaduna job seekers

    Don’t pay for application, El-Rufai tells Kaduna job seekers

    Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has told applicants for the recently advertised jobs in the state’s teaching service and traffic enforcement agency not to pay any fee or buy any forms.

    The Governor said the applicants are simply required to submit their applications at the advertised places and not to pay a dime.

    El-Rufai, in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said as clearly stated in the adverts, applications by those seeking teaching jobs should be addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education.

    He said: “Applicants for Traffic and Environmental Enforcement Officer positions should submit their applications to their local government council chairman.

    “Applicants are not required to pay any fee or submit any forms other than their application letters and relevant documents.

    “Any request for money or acts amounting to obstructing or hindering citizens from smooth submission of their applications is illegal.

    “Applicants should report such acts to info@kdsg.gov.ng  or to 08184444644 and 08184444744.

    “Candidates whose applications meet the required standards will be shortlisted and contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process.”

  • El-Rufai warns agencies against blanket marking of buildings for demolition

    El-Rufai warns agencies against blanket marking of buildings for demolition

    Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has warned agencies involved in the recovery exercise of government owned institution’s lands that there must be no blanket marking of any neighborhood, layout or community just on account of proximity to the historic boundaries of public institutions.

    The warning to the agencies was contained in a statement signed by the Governor’s Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan and made available to newsmen in Kaduna yesterday.

    Part of the statement reads thus: “The Governor’s written approval must be obtained before any action is undertaken to initiate recovery processes based on the surveys and maps showing these encroachments.

    “Approvals for necessary action will not be granted except it is evident that the layouts containing the excisions are illegal or irregular, and are clearly inimical to the purpose of the affected institutions in such a manner that cannot be prudently remedied.

    “Where the boundaries that have survived encroachment are considered sufficient for the functioning of these public institutions, other actions short of recovery will be taken on the encroached lands.

    “Due notice must be taken of the historic nature of the encroachments, and the longevity of some of the buildings and layouts that are a result of encroachment but are longstanding, and do not manifestly impede the safe and smooth running of the affected public institutions.

    “There must be no blanket marking of any neighborhood, layout or community just on account of proximity to the historic boundaries of public institutions.

    “Clear procedures for establishing the validity of title and development approvals for buildings must be established and respected.

    “Local Government Councils are to note that they have no role in the land recovery exercise, beyond gathering and forwarding information to KASUPDA, which is the mandate agency for town planning and enforcement.

    “Government directs scrupulous compliance with these instructions in implementing the land recovery exercise.”

    Aruwan stated that the government appreciates the understanding and support of the general public for the land recovery exercise. Citizens are encouraged to remain engaged, and to report any fears and concerns about the land recovery exercise to the government.”

    Aruwan’s statement further added that: “The Kaduna State Government has announced its determination to recover lands belonging to public institutions. This applies to lands that have been illegally excised, carved-out or alienated in a manner that contradicts the security, orderly environment and expansion prospects of the affected schools, hospitals and other public institutions.

    “In restoring the integrity of these lands, the Government has taken steps to ensure that the recovery exercise is conducted in a fair and orderly manner that upholds public interest and conduces to social harmony.

    “Therefore all agencies involved in the implementation of the land recovery exercise must note and abide by these considerations,” the statement reads.

  • El-Rufai sacks more perm secs

    •Appoints accountant-general

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai yesterday announced the appointment of an Accountant-General, Umar Hassan Waziri.

    The governor retired more permanent secretaries, one of who is a son of the first Executive Governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa.

    These were contained in a statement made available to reporters in Kaduna by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan.

    The statement said: “The new accountant-general is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He studied Accounting at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and graduated in 1995.”

    Born in Zaria in 1971, Waziri worked with the Shell Petroleum Development Company as an internal auditor. Before his appointment, he ran an accounting firm.

    The statement also announced the retirement of Adamu Makadi, (permanent secretary, Local Government); Ibrahim Balarabe Musa, (permanent secretary, Youth, Sports and Culture) and Ishaku K. Shekari, (accountant-general).

    It said the retired permanent secretaries were directed to hand over to the most senior director in their ministries.

    The statement added that the governor thanked the retired officials for the services they rendered.

     

     

  • El-Rufai appoints new Accountant-General

    El-Rufai appoints new Accountant-General

    … Retires more permanent secretaries

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday appointed Umar Hassan Waziri as the Accountant-General for the state.

    The governor has also retired more permanent secretaries, one of whom is a son of the first Executive Governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa.

    The Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, disclosed these in a statement in Kaduna Tuesday.

    The statement reads:  “The new Accountant-General is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He studied Accounting at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and graduated in 1995.”

    “Born in Zaria in 1971, Waziri has worked with Shell Petroleum Development Company as internal auditor. He was most recently running his own accounting firm.”

    The retired permanent secretaries, according to the statement are – Adamu Makadi (Local Government), Ibrahim Balarabe Musa (Youth, Sports and Culture) and Ishaku K. Shekari (Accountant-General).

     

     

  • Kaduna TUC backs El-Rufai’s fight against ghost workers

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Kaduna State Council has said it is not opposed to the genuine verification exercise of the state Civil

    Servants to rid the government pay roll of ghost workers.

    The Chairman, Comrade Shehu Mohammed while addressing a press conference in kaduna yesterday said the Congress is in total support of any move that will ensure the free flow of money illegal accounts to the government treasury for speedy development of the state.

    The Union however appealed to the Governor consider the payment of July 2015 salaries and wages of those civil servants of the state

    that were cleared in June while the second   round  of the verification exercise in the state continue.

    According to him, “The Union is of the opinion that delaying payments of worker’ salaries and wages amounts to tremendous hardship to the workers and their families.

    “We considers the outcome of the meeting between the committee of verification exercise and the leadership of the union along side with

    banks that were to handle the exercise and we discovered that some of them are not ready.

    “In as much as the union remains committed  in supporting the government in carrying out its obligatory to the people of Kaduna State it would not be seen as shaking away from its responsibilities to protect the economic well being of its members in the state,” Comrade Mohammed stated.

  • El-Rufai and the beggars’ revolt

    SIR: The no nonsense governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has locked horns firmly with the “Beggars’ Empire” that has been striving militantly and vaingloriously in the old northern Nigeria capital. The governor announced the ban on hawking and street begging following the July 7 bomb blast at Sabon Gari Local Government Secretariat in the state that killed 25 people and left 32 others injured. A suspected female suicide bomber had sneaked into the secretariat and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) strapped to her body on that fateful Tuesday morning while civil servants were undergoing staff verification.

    As expected, the ban was met with ferocious condemnation by the beggars’ colony. They alleged that they had used proceeds from begging to help join the movement that produced President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor El-Rufai and also pledged to bring down El-Rufai government if he insists on stopping their livelihood without providing them any alternative. The beggars’ spokesman, Abdullahi Jugunu, a visually impaired person, who is said to live in a decent accommodation, owns a car and speaks good English, told journalists in Hausa that the governor had stepped beyond his bound. A visibly angry Jugunu reportedly said:  ”Apart from feeling insulted, we will be seeking legal redress against the government, first for defamation of character . The ban which came only after the Zaria blast is a subtle way of calling us terrorists. Our right to life is now under threat because our existence is hinged on begging activities on the streets”.

    Here is the full horror of the situation: More than 90% of the 10.8 million Nigeria children of school age, susceptible to all kinds of social manipulation who are out of school according the UNESCO statistics, are those hawking and begging on the streets of Nigeria, especially the northern part where you can find a veritable army of beggars.

    Should they be left to wallow in the dysfunctional mess? Governor El-Rufai should try as much as possible to create proper rehabilitation colony for the beggars who have simply become adrift or are institutionalised destitute as you have them in India and other destitute-ridden countries of the world. The rehabilitation will have to include training in specific trade for a period before ploughing them back into the society.

    Will Governor Nasir  El-Rufai save them?

     

    • Erasmus Ikhide,

     Lagos.

  • El-Rufai directs banks to close all state accounts

    El-Rufai directs banks to close all state accounts

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has directed all banks with Kaduna State Government accounts to close them and remit its balances to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The governor said the state will now commence implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) framework by September 1, 2015.

    According to the Governor in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, “All banks that maintain the accounts of the government have been put on notice to close them and remit the balances to the Central Bank of Nigeria which will host the state’s TSA.

    Aruwan said, the governor gave the directive at a meeting with officials of all the banks hosting the state government’s many revenue and expenditure accounts.

    “The meeting was also attended by the Kaduna State Branch Controller of the CBN. Malam El-Rufai explained that after the establishment of the TSA, the state government will open specified sub-accounts with the CBN and the commercial banks.

    “The banks present assured the governor that within five working days of receiving the formal instructions from the state government; they will close the accounts and remit the balances to the TSA.

    “While thanking the banks for their continued support, the governor assured them that a future session will be organized to explain to the banks how the new TSA and the sub-accounts will work,” it read.

    The statement also disclosed that selected revenue-holding accounts will be excluded from this directive as government will publish needed Treasury Circulars and other instructions to give effect to the decision.

     

  • I’m recovering govt land, says El-Rufai

    I’m recovering govt land, says El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has said his mission is to recover government land from those who acquired them illegally.

    He said he was not demolishing Kaduna as his opponents were insinuating.

    El-Rufai said his government was not all about demolition, as such, people should not be afraid that he would demolish their houses.

    The governor, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, while addressing reporters at the Government House yesterday, said the exercise his administration was starting today was the recovery of school and hospital land from illegal occupants.

    He said: “After the town hall meeting in Zaria on Sunday, people started a campaign of calumny that El-Rufai has come with his demolition ideology. But to set the record straight, we are only asking those who illegally occupied government-owned institutions’ land to vacate the places.

    “This government will not allow the encroachment of its land. For instance, when we visited the state library in Zaria and Alhudahuda College, private buildings have almost taken over the places. This has negative effect on the learning atmosphere.

    “Alhudahuda College, for example, has been in existence over a decade. But if we allow the type of encroachment going on there to continue, the school may go into extinction in the next 30 years.“

    “We have given them notice and it will expire on August 5 (today). We will recover the land for the future of our children. Public land belong to the people of Kaduna State and we must recover them before it is too late.”

    The governor said people should ignore those whipping up sentiments that the El-Rufai administration would demolish houses, adding that the recovery of government land would begin today after the expiration of the quit notice given illegal occupants.

     

     

     

  • El-Rufai steps up campaign against criminals

    El-Rufai steps up campaign against criminals

    There is no taking the foot off the accelerator in the drive against criminals in Kaduna State.

    The state governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai declared war on miscreants  terrorising the state, adding that anyone who committed murder or engaged in any criminal act must face the music.

    The gesture has sent a strong signal to the criminals. Just after he constituted General Martin Luther Agwai led committee on Southern Kaduna killings, the war against criminals has been progressive.

    After 120 suspected criminals, including new Sara-Suka miscreant gang members were  charged before a Kaduna court, 41 others have been paraded by the police for armed robbery, illegal gun production and car snatching among others.

    The suspects were taken to court and later assigned to various magistrate courts by the Chief Magistrate Court I, Awaulu Musa Aliyu, for the continuation of the case. However, the suspects were taken back to police custody.

    Speaking with journalists over the arraignment, Kaduna State Police Command spokesman, Deputy Supretendant of Police, DSP Zubairu Abubakar, disclosed that 120 suspected criminals and terrorist gangs were charged before the court for criminal activities adding that there is no hiding place for miscreants in the state.

    He explained that: “We arrested 120 suspected criminals with some acts of terrorism, armed robbery and rape. Some are suspected to be members of a terrorist gang known as Sara-Suka. We arrested some of them on the spot while committing the crime, while others were arrested based on complaints from the public”.

    But of specific interest in the Friday parade of suspects at the police headquarters was the case of a car thief who vehemently rejected being referred to as a car snatcher. Aliyu Yakubu who confessed to have stolen about 300 cars from Kaduna since 2012 said, he never snatched a car in his life. Yakubu who suddenly turned an English language teacher, told journalists that, a car snatcher robs the owner at gunpoint.

    According to him, “I have a master key that can open any type of car and that is what I have been using to move cars from where they are parked. Immediately I pick a car, I move straight to Niger Republic where I sell it at a fixed price of N300,000:00.

    “I normally target places like big people’s areas, rich people’s occasions, because I know they won’t be pained much because they have many other cars. So, they don’t usually report to police on time, before they report, I must have gone far,” Yakubu explained.

    On whether his choice of ‘business’ has dark side, he said yes, “In 2013, I was arrested by police for the same offense and I was subsequently charged to court. But a friend, who has political intention came to my rescue and secured my bail.

    “So, the case is still in court due to bureaucracy and redtapism. It was as a result of come to court today come tomorrow that I added one plus two and continue with my business pending the time the court will determine my case”, he hinted confidently.

    He further added that, “I sometimes traced unsuspecting motorists to their destinations where I use the master key to unlock the car’s sensor after which I drive as fast as I could straight to Niger Republic where my regular buyer would be waiting for the consignment.

    “I started in 2012 when I was told that I could make as much as N300,000 on one car. I tried it and I saw that it was not difficult so I continued until when I was caught few days ago by the police in Kaduna”, he explained.

    Luck however ran out of him when he attempted to steal another car on popular Isa Kaita road, Kaduna.